Protect your pet from Lyme disease

Not every shot is right for all animals: Learn which ones are important for your dog or cat and which ones you can skip.

Ticks are a big threat to pets―they can carry Lyme disease. If they transmit the illness to your animal, they could suffer flu-like symptoms, joint damage and heart and kidney problems. If you find one of these bugs on your cat or dog, remove it immediately by following these steps:

1. Use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers so you don't have to touch the tick with your hands (it could carry diseases).

2. Grab the tick with the tweezers where it has entered the skin (near its head or mouth).

3. Pull out the tick firmly. Do not twist the tick as you are pulling.